Chief operating officer

ABOUT ZAHARA INDUSTRIES

Zahara Industries SPRL is a Burundi-based manufacturer of high-quality plastic household products marketed under the ZURI brand. Building on more than 15 years of industry experience, the company is focused on quality, sustainability, customer service and regional growth across East Africa.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Chief Operating Officer will translate company strategy into disciplined day-to-day execution across production, procurement, supply chain, warehousing, maintenance, quality assurance, health and safety. The successful candidate will establish reliable systems, strengthen teams, improve cost and service performance, and support the company’s next phase of growth

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide end-to-end leadership for production, procurement, supply chain, warehousing, maintenance, quality and workplace safety.
• Prepare and execute annual operating plans, departmental budgets, performance targets and clear operational KPIs.
• Improve productivity, capacity utilisation, product quality, on-time delivery and customer service through disciplined execution.
• Implement robust cost controls covering materials, labour, utilities, waste, downtime and other operating
• Oversee procurement, inventory planning and supplier performance to maintain continuity while optimising working capital.
• Ensure preventive and corrective maintenance programmes maximise machinery reliability and useful
• Strengthen quality assurance systems so all products consistently meet approved specifications and customer expectations.

LEADERSHIP, RISK AND GROWTH

• Embed strong health, safety and environmental practices and ensure compliance with applicable laws, licences and company policies.
• Build a high-performance culture by coaching managers, developing teams, clarifying accountability and supporting succession planning.
• Partner with the Managing Director, Finance and Sales to align demand, production, cash flow, commercial priorities and customer commitments.
• Identify operational risks and growth opportunities, including process improvement, new products and regional expansion, and provide timely reports to leadership.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Business Administration or a related field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in senior operations, plant, production or general
• Demonstrated leadership experience in manufacturing; exposure to plastics, FMCG or household consumer products is an advantage.
• Strong command of production planning, inventory control, quality management, maintenance, cost control and performance reporting.
• Sound financial and commercial judgement, with the ability to manage budgets, working capital and operational trade-offs.
• Competence with Microsoft Office and ERP or manufacturing information
• Professional working proficiency in English and French; Kirundi and/or Swahili is an
• An MBA or certification in Lean, Six Sigma, ISO, HSE or project management is an added

CORE COMPETENCIES

 Operational leadership | Strategic execution | Commercial judgement | Continuous improvement | People development | Integrity and accountability

HOW TO APPLY

Submit your CV, cover letter, academic and professional certificates, current or recent remuneration and expectations, earliest commencement date, and contact details for three referees.

Email: hr@zaharaindustries.com

Subject: Application for Chief Operating Officer – [Applicant’s Full Name]

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted